Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Raptors: Boston's Defense and Offensive Approach Produce Blowout Victory

Sam Hauser scores a career-high 26 points as Celtics sweep two-game series against the Raptors.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics swept their two-game miniseries against the Raptors, earning a 121-102 win on Friday. That comes two nights after beating Toronto 97-93.

The victory improves Boston's record to 56-25 with one game left in the regular season, a Sunday matinee against the Hawks at TD Garden. The defending Eastern Conference champions have already solidified their standing as the second seed in the East.

But that and playing shorthanded, including being down Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, didn't stand in the way of the Celtics delivering a stellar two-way performance against their guests from the North.

Sam Hauser scored a game and career-high 26 points in the win. Jayson Tatum provided 21. Robert Williams stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

Boston also got 22 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard and 11 from Mike Muscala.

The hosts also played outstanding defense, staying in front of drives and consistently contesting shots, limiting Toronto to 43 percent shooting from the field, including 9/31 (29 percent) from beyond the arc.

Now, a deep dive into what stood out in each quarter of the Celtics' win over the Raptors on Friday.

Celtics' Defensive Activity and Aggressive Approach Offensively Propel Them in the First Frame

Robert Williams helped Boston build a 12-2 lead in the early going, swatting a pair of shots, throwing down a dunk off a dish from Jayson Tatum, and delivering a dime to Sam Hauser for a layup in the first five minutes.

Tatum helped extend the hosts' advantage to 24-7 with 3:42 remaining in the opening period, attacking the basket to produce ten points and two assists, including the one to Williams, and later setting up Hauser for a three.

The Celtics also made multiple energy plays, including Blake Griffin tapping out a Tatum missed three and the latter deflecting the ball to Mike Muscala, who buried a shot behind the arc.

Boston ended the quarter leading 34-16.

Tatum led all participants with 15 points despite going 0/4 from three-point range, a testament to the damage he inflicted getting downhill. 

The Celtics assisted on 9/12 field goals. Defensively, they did a great job keeping drives in front of them and contesting shots, limiting the Raptors to 29.2 percent from the field, including 1/5 from beyond the arc.

Celtics Continue Their Stellar Two-Way Play in the Second Quarter

In the second-straight Frame, Boston again put 34 points on the board and held Toronto under 25.

The hosts' continued to play outstanding defensively, limiting the visitors to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor and 2/10 on threes.

But after committing eight turnovers in the first 12 minutes, the Celtics coughed the ball up five times in the second frame. The Raptors converted Boston's 13 first-half giveaways into ten points.

While the Celtics were sloppy regarding taking care of the ball, everything else earned a high mark.

They didn't miss from inside the arc. Those shots came almost exclusively at the rim.

TOR vs BOS on 04_07_2023

The hosts shot 60 percent from the field in the first 24 minutes, assisted on 20/24 field goals, parlayed seven offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points, and went 11/13 at the free-throw line.

Between their lockdown defense and aggressive, up-tempo approach offensively, Boston entered the break ahead 68-40. For a stretch late in the second quarter, the Celtics' lead was larger than how much Toronto scored.

Tatum led all scorers with 21 points, pairing it with four assists. Hauser had 11 and four rebounds. Robert Williams registered four points, grabbed six boards, swatted three shots, and swiped two steals.

Al Horford chipped in eight points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Boston also got 11 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard, who drilled 4/6 shots, including 3/5 threes.

No one on the Raptors scored in double figures.

Celtics Large Lead Results in Loss of Focus in the Third Quarter

The Celtics committed four turnovers in a slow-paced third frame and didn't score 30 points for the first time Friday night, getting held to 27.

But while Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 15 points in the period, Hauser provided eight for Boston, burying 2/3 threes, and he threw down this vicious dunk.

The Celtics lost focus and played with less energy in the third quarter, and Toronto put 33 points on the board, but the hosts led 95-73 entering the final 12 minutes.

Celtics Cruise to the Finish Line

Boston picked up its energy to start the fourth quarter, resulting in multiple dunks by Hauser, including one off a baseline cut.

Continuing to turn stops into points at the rim, Grant Williams grabbed a defensive board and tossed the ball ahead to Pritchard for a layup that gave the hosts a 109-86 lead with 4:34 left.

From there, the Celtics cruised to a 121-102 win, sweeping their two-game miniseries against the Raptors.

Up Next

The Celtics host the Hawks in their regular-season finale Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is at 1:00 p.m. EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Nick Nurse Provides His Evaluation of Former Raptor and Newest Celtic, Justin Champagnie

Jaylen Brown Opens Up About His Relationship with Marcus Smart

Jaylen Brown Shares What Winning the Red Auerbach Award Means to Him: 'I've Put My Everything Into This Team, I've Put My Everything Into This City'

Celtics Discuss Malcolm Brogdon's Sixth Man of the Year Candidacy

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to the Celtics Clinching the Two Seed in the East

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

[Film Room] What the Celtics Did to Slow Down Giannis Antetokounmpo in Blowout vs. Bucks

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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